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Helping people can be delicious.

 To find out how delicious, head over to the GIVES Soup Supper, which returns Sunday after a two-year hiatus. While you've probably seen GIVES (Garrett Park Intercommunity Voluntary Experiment in Sharing) collecting money each month at the Garrett Park Post Office to support charities that relieve hunger, now you can relieve your own while still helping out.

Glenda Ingham, the president of GIVES, said donations raised at the event will be split evenly between two charities. Half the proceeds will go toward the American Friends Service Committee, which promotes hunger relief in the United States and other countries, and half will go to The Dinner Program for Homeless Women in the District, which provides meals and support services to homeless women and children, as well as men.

Ingham said it's safe to expect a soup smorgasbord.

"Oh my, we have all kinds of soup, we have 17 soup makers!" she said, including about half a dozen vegetarian selections.

GIVES is encouraging the use of "locally grown" ingredients this year, at the suggestion of the Garrett Park Climate Action Now committee.  GIVES will provide pottery soup bowls but no spoons, so utensils should be brought by the spooners-not-sippers among us. Biodegradable cups, plates, and napkins will be provided, along with non-alcohol beverages. Children and BYOB alcoholic beverages may be brought but not mixed. Erika Barry, executive director of the Dinner Program for Homeless Women will attend to talk about the program and how donations help.

There is no charge but donations are encouraged, and every tax-deductible penny will go toward the charities. The supper will be held at the Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave. from 5 to 7 p.m.

 Anyone willing to make soup or bread, or help with set up and clean up should call Ingham at 301-933-5689 or contact Karen Anderson at equitator@gmail.com. 

Kensington church

wins education award

Congratulations to Christ Episcopal Church of Kensington, which was honored with the Distinguished Service to Public Education Award by the Board of Education last Thursday. The church was one of three groups honored at the annual awards ceremony which was established by the Montgomery County School Board to recognize and show appreciation for exemplary contributions to public education and to MCPS.

The church is being honored for numerous projects it has done for Arcola Elementary School in Silver Spring. Church youth groups and individuals have thrown Valentines Day parties, assembled Thanksgiving dinners, held book and coat drives and provided 100 food bags during the winter break to families of students who are on assisted or free meals at the school.

The Rev. Gini Gerbasi, assistant rector at Christ Episcopal, said the church's involvement at the school began when a parishioner and a school counselor at Arcola got to talking about the school's hardships at a soccer game.

"Next thing you know, they've been amazing," said Tina Padilla, the counselor who spoke with the parishioner that day, adding that the church gave $1,000 to the school for its dedication ceremony, and will be providing treats for the upcoming harvest parties at Arcola. All the help spurred Padilla to nominate the church for the award.

"They've just been absolutely amazing, it's just been a total blessing," she said.

Gerbasi said all the volunteering has been a great opportunity for the congregation to make a local difference.

"It was right in the neighborhood," Gerbasi said. "We didn't have to go far to find kids that have real needs that we could make a contribution to."

Gerbasi said over three –quarters of the school qualifies for reduced meals, and because many of the parents are wage workers, time for things like PTA and holiday parties is limited. Gerbasi said parishioners were able to step in and fill some of the gaps.

"Part of what's cool about this is it involves so many different people in the parish," from the youth group to individuals, Gerbasi said.

Gerbasi said she was "shocked and tickled pink," when she learned the church had received the award, but much of the credit belongs with the school staff as well.

"I feel a little silly, to be honest, because I feel like the spirit comes as much from the spirit in that school and the leadership at that school as much as from us."

Flapjack-o-lanterns?

St. Paul's United Methodist Church will hold its monthly all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday, and this time, in addition to regular hotcakes, pumpkin flavored flapjacks will be available to celebrate the season. Proceeds will be given to the Charles Kirkley Scholarship Fund at Wesley Theological Seminary. The cost is $5 for adults, $2 for children under 12, with a $15 per-family maximum. The breakfast will be held in Heavener Hall at the church, located at 10401 Armory Ave. in Kensington.  For more information call 301-933-7933.

This column is for you. Share your good news! Feel free to send press releases and news tips. Contact Jen Beasley via e-mail at jbeasley@gazette.net, phone at 301-280-3005, fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.